Solar eclipse 2024: Philadelphia awed by rare solar eclipse

Philadelphians pack Franklin Institute for epic solar eclipse watch party

FOX 29's Greg Payne has reactions from folks who were excited to gather at the Franklin Institute to watch the 2024 solar eclipse.

PHILADELPHIA - The highly anticipated day has finally come and go as the solar eclipse made its way across the sky!

Philadelphia may not be in the path of totality, but city gazers can still caught a 90 percent glimpse of the rare spectacle.

Philadelphia Timeline

2:08 p.m. The moon began its journey across the sun
3:23 p.m. The eclipse peaked in the Philadelphia area with a sliver of sun on the left side
4:35 p.m. It all came to an end!

What time does the solar eclipse start in Philadelphia?

The solar eclipse will begin its journey in Philadelphia at 2:08 p.m., peaking at 3:23 p.m. and ending at 4:35 p.m.

Caught on camera

Swipe through a gallery showing some epic shots of the eclipse in Philly and its surrounding areas.

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Philadelphia. PA

Solar eclipse forecast

In the Philadelphia area, there were partly sunny skies after a sunny Sunday.

The Weather Authority's future radars showed two models with just a few white clouds across our skies.

The other two models had a lot more clouds over the Philadelphia area when close to 90 percent of the sun was blocked by the moon.

Highs were in the low to mid 60s as the eclipse happened in the afternoon.

Where to watch in the Philadelphia area

The Franklin Institute
Torresdale Library
The Morris Arboretum and Gardens
The Kimpton Palomar Philadelphia is offering a solar eclipse package
Glen Foerd
The Independence Visitor Center
Temple University beach party
American Philosophical Society
Valley Forge National Historical Park
Wagner Free Institute of Science
Fairmount Park: Prime viewing at the city's highest point - The Mann Center
Cira Green: Head up to the rooftop bar for great views of the city and the eclipse
Gilbertsville: Visit Philadelphia says this Montgomery County town boasts the closest to the path of totality in the region

You can also catch all-day coverage on FOX 29 and FOX LOCAL.

Inside West Chester University's 2024 solar eclipse watch party

Folks in West Chester gathered by the masses to watch the iconic 2024 solar eclipse. FOX 29's Shaynah Ferreira has the scoop!

How high was the eclipse?

At that time of day, the sun was pretty high in the sky. As always, though, the further north you are, the lower in the sky the sun will appear.

For example, in Austin, the sun was at 67 degrees up from the horizon at the peak of totality. Remember, 90 degrees is straight up, so 67 degrees is just over two-thirds up into the sky from the horizon.

In Cleveland, meanwhile, the sun was slightly lower, at only 49 degrees – just over halfway up in the sky.

Were there any buildings in the way?

Buildings don't tend to move, so again, you can probably get a sense of that by knowing your surroundings ahead of time and using the information above. But if not, another app could help you.

ShadeMap is a web-based tool that uses a map interface combined with building height data to simulate shadows cast by buildings. You can use the slider to zoom through the day and see how shadows on the ground move as the sun crosses the sky.

The basic tool is free. An upgraded version also includes tree data.

Where do I look for the solar eclipse?

The easiest way to know may be to step outside in the days leading up to the eclipse and see where the sun is during the afternoon.

Early afternoon on April 8, the sun will be pretty high in the sky. As always, though, the further north you are, the lower in the sky the sun will appear.

For example, in Austin, the sun will be at 67 degrees up from the horizon at the peak of totality. Remember, 90 degrees is straight up, so 67 degrees is just over two-thirds up into the sky from the horizon.

In Cleveland, meanwhile, the sun will be slightly lower, at only 49 degrees – just over halfway up in the sky.

What will I see during the eclipse?

If you are in the path of totality: The moon will appear to completely block the sun for as long as seven and a half minutes. Daytime will turn into near night during that time and the sun’s corona – the outer rays – may be visible.

If you are not far from the path of totality: The moon will appear to block most of the sun. It will still become noticeably darker; daylight will become more like twilight.

If you are well outside the path of totality: You’ll notice a chunk of the sun is being blocked. The farther away you are, the smaller the moon’s bite will appear to be. In Seattle and Portland, Oregon, about as far away as you can get in the continental U.S., one-third of the sun will be swallowed.